Share
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @trktpz. It's brilliant to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about installing drawslides.
If the drawer slides operate smoothly without the drawer installed, that is usually a good indication that the slides themselves are functioning properly. When the drawer stops three-quarters of the way closed, it suggests something at that exact point is making contact and preventing full travel. The most common cause is a screw that is not quite seated flush. Even if they look correct, a single screw that sits only a fraction too proud can touch a screw on the opposite slide once the drawer is fitted. It can also be two screws that are each only slightly out, and together they make contact when the slide reaches that position.
It is also worth checking the internal carcass to make sure the drawer is not hitting a rail, brace or any structural element at the back of the unit. Sometimes a lip, support or old shelf hole can be positioned exactly where the slide enters the cabinet.
The best way to diagnose it is to slowly open and close the drawer a few times and watch closely at the exact point it stops. Look for any screw heads that are not fully bedded down or any part of the drawer or slide that seems to touch another surface. Once you locate that spot, the fix is usually straightforward. If it is not the screws, then there must be some other physical obstruction in that section of the cabinetry, so a careful inspection around the stop point should reveal the cause.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
Hi Mitchell,
thanks for the thorough and insightful reply. I was able to find a slightly misaligned screw and remove it after fixing an aligned one. With some working of the drawer it is running free! All this resulted from in-situ work in a 290 wide cupboard on the least favourable side for a left-hander! -David
